Liverpool Bay

Liverpool Bay

by | Sep 11, 2019

Liverpool Bay

Bird species included in model

Common scoter (Melanitta nigra)

Environmental issues simulated

Offshore windfarm development changing habitat area

Recommendations from modelling

Windfarm development in relatively shallow food-rich areas can reduce Common Scoter survival.

More information

Kaiser, M.J., Elliott, A., Galanidi, M., Rees, E.I.S., Caldow, R., Stillman, R., Sutherland, W. and Showler, D., 2005. Predicting the displacement of common scoter Melanitta nigra from benthic feeding areas due to offshore windfarms, University of Wales, Bangor, Wales.

Funding

COWRIE under BEN-03-2002. Additional funding from Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, The Crown Estate, BHP and developers of offshore windfarms in Liverpool Bay.

Wash

Wash

by | Sep 1, 2019

Wash

Case Study A

Bird species included in model

Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Environmental issues simulated

Shellfishery management and natural variation changing habitat area, availability time and food density. Mitigation to increase food density and area.

Recommendations from modelling

Shellfishery management needs to reserve up to 8 times more shellfish biomass than consumed by Oystercatcher populations.

More information

Goss-Custard, J.D., Stillman, R.A., West, A.D., Caldow, R.W.G., Triplet, P., le V dit Durell, S.E.A. and McGrorty, S., 2004. When enough is not enough: shorebirds and shellfishing. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 271(1536): 233-237.

Stillman, R. A., West, A. D., Goss-Custard, J. D., Caldow, R. W. G., McGrorty, S., Durell, S. E. A. le V. dit, Yates, M., G., Atkinson, P. W., Clark, N. A., Bell, M. C., Dare, P. J. & Mander, M. (2003) An individual behaviour-based model can predict shorebird mortality using routinely collected shellfishery data. Journal of Applied Ecology, 40, 1090-1101.

Funding

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Case Study B

Bird species included in model

Common eider (Somateria mollissima), Common scoter (Melanitta nigra), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Environmental issues simulated

Shellfishery management changing habitat area and availability time

Recommendations from modelling

Impact of shellfishing on oystercatcher and eider survival is reduced when alternative food resources are available.

More information

Caldow, R.W.G., Stillman, R.A. and West, A., 2003. Modelling study to determine the capacity of The Wash shellfish stocks to support eider Somateria mollissima, Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Dorset. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1589/

Funding

Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Natural England

Case Study C

Bird species included in model

Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Red knot (Calidris canutus)

Environmental issues simulated

Human recreation and unspecified drivers changing habitat area, availability and food availability

Recommendations from modelling

Site quality was higher when more large prey species were present. Habitat loss and up to 20 disturbances per hour had relatively little impact on shorebird survival.

More information

West, A. D., Yates, M. G., McGrorty, S. & Stillman, R. A. (2007) Predicting site quality for shorebird communities: a case study on the Wash embayment, UK. Ecological Modelling, 202, 527-539.

Funding

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural England